SMD manipulator 4PLACE with vision system
350 × 210 mm PCB area · Vacuum pickup · 8 Mpix vision system · 15.6" monitor · Optional feeders & dispensing
Product detailed description
Guided manual Pick & Place for PCB prototyping, development and low-volume SMT assembly.
The MIPEC 4PLACE is a manual SMD manipulator designed to assist component placement on prototype and small-batch PCBs. It combines mechanically guided X/Y/Z movement, vacuum pickup, component rotation and an integrated camera system in one compact workstation.
The operator remains in direct control of component selection and placement while the manipulator provides guided movement, optical assistance and organized component handling.
Manual Pick & Place for PCB Prototyping
After solder paste has been applied, SMD components need to be positioned onto their corresponding PCB pads before reflow soldering.
The 4PLACE supports this process by combining vacuum component pickup with guided movement and visual assistance. The operator picks the component, positions it above the PCB, adjusts its orientation and lowers it into the solder paste.
This approach is particularly suitable for laboratories and development environments where PCB designs change frequently and fully automated placement may not be necessary.
Operator Control with Mechanical Guidance
The operator controls the placement process directly while the manipulator provides guided movement, vacuum pickup, rotation and camera-assisted viewing.
Key Benefits
Vision-Assisted Component Placement
Small SMD packages and fine-pitch components can be difficult to align using direct visual observation alone.
The integrated camera system provides a magnified view of the placement area, helping the operator observe component orientation and pad alignment during manual placement.
Vision assistance does not automate the placement process. The operator remains responsible for component positioning, while the camera provides additional visual information.
Integrated Camera + Monitor
The 4PLACE combines an integrated 8 Mpix camera system with a 15.6-inch display for enlarged viewing of the PCB placement area.
Typical Placement Workflow
Select the Component
Identify the required SMD component from the feeder, stick, tray or other component holder.
Pick with Vacuum
Use the vacuum pickup nozzle to lift the component from its source.
Align & Rotate
Move the component above the PCB and adjust orientation while observing the placement area.
Place the Component
Lower the component onto the prepared solder paste deposit before continuing with the remaining components.
Vacuum Pickup & Component Rotation
Vacuum pickup allows components to be held by the placement nozzle while they are moved from their packaging to the PCB.
Components can be rotated while held by the nozzle, allowing the operator to adjust orientation before placement.
This is particularly useful for polarized devices and integrated circuits where both position and rotational orientation matter.
Pick, Rotate, Align, Place
The component remains held by vacuum while the operator adjusts its position and orientation before lowering it onto the PCB.
Optional Component Feeding
The 4PLACE workstation can be configured with optional component feeder blocks to organize components and present them for pickup during manual PCB assembly.
Tape Feeder Block
Designed for SMD components supplied in carrier tape. The feeder block positions the tape at the workstation so components can be accessed directly during placement.
Stick Feeder Block
Designed for compatible SMD components supplied in sticks or tubes, providing an organized component source alongside the 4PLACE workstation.
Optional Pneumatic Dispensing
The 4PLACE can also be equipped with a dispensing head, allowing the same workstation to support pneumatic solder paste, flux or compatible fluid dispensing before component placement.
The dispensing head is used together with a pneumatic dispensing controller, which provides the pressure and timing required to drive material from the syringe.
One Workstation, Two Assembly Tasks
With the optional dispensing system, the 4PLACE workstation can support both guided fluid dispensing and subsequent manual component placement.
Typical Applications
Technical Specifications
| Product type | Manual vision-assisted SMD manipulator |
|---|---|
| Maximum PCB working area | 350 × 210 mm |
| X / Y / Z movement range | 470 × 230 × 15 mm |
| Component pickup | Vacuum nozzle |
| Component rotation | Manual rotation while held by vacuum |
| Camera | 8 Mpix |
| Video output | 1080p / 30 fps |
| Monitor | 15.6-inch display |
| Optional component feeding | Tape feeder block / Stick feeder block |
| Optional dispensing | Dispensing head + pneumatic dispensing controller |
| Application | Manual SMD component placement for PCB prototyping and low-volume assembly |
Part of the MIPEC Pick & Place Workflow
Component placement follows solder paste application in the MIPEC PCB prototyping workflow.
Once SMD components have been positioned on the prepared solder paste deposits, the populated board proceeds to reflow soldering.
Next Step: Reflow
After placement, the populated PCB is heated according to the solder paste profile so the solder deposits can form the final joints.